China Issues a Revised RoHs Draft for Public Comment

original article from C&K Testing

On 18 May 2015, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issues a draft version of the revised Management Methods for the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products (EEPs) for public comment by collaborating with other ministries in China. The consultation period will end on 17 June 2015.

The initial version of Management Methods was released in June 2012 and implemented from 1 March 2007. As its contents are similar to EU RoHs, it is also known as “China RoHs”. Now it is renamed as Management Methods for the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products, which is different from the initial version.

The revised draft includes the following changes:

The scope for its applicability will be expanded, which we may know from the regulation’s new name. Products such as home appliances and major appliances are added for regulation. But power generation, transmission and distribution equipment are excluded.

The exemption is removed. The draft removes the exemption of electrical and electronics manufactured in China for export in Article 2 of the initial version.

The management catalogue is renamed as Compliance Management Catalogue for the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in EEPs. Products on the list shall be regulated to restrict hazardous substances in EEPs.

Related information shall be specified. EEPs to be placed on the market shall be marked with information, such as names, contents of hazardous substances, if the equipment can be recycled and potential impact on environment and human body in case of improper use or disposal.

Assessment system for compliance use is established. Competent supervision departments with national certification will formulate the system with MIIT according to their functions, and then issue and organize its implementation.

Once the draft is approved, the initial version released on 28 February 2006 will be obsolete.